Araghchi: Iran's nuclear doctrine is unlikely to change…

Araghchi: Iran's nuclear doctrine is unlikely to change despite lawmakers' calls

18.03.2026 10:00 HotInfo

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Wednesday that the country's nuclear doctrine is "unlikely to change" — despite growing pressure from domestic lawmakers to develop nuclear weapons. In September 2025, 70 Iranian lawmakers signed an appeal calling for a "change in defense doctrine" toward nuclear deterrence. Araghchi rejected this appeal, stating that Iran remains committed to the fatwa banning nuclear weapons. Al Jazeera ↗

The statement comes on the same day a projectile struck the grounds of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Since the start of the war, three major Iranian nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — have been hit by American bunker buster bombs. The IAEA has had no access to any of these sites since July 2025 and relies solely on satellite imagery and information from Tehran. NBC News ↗

Araghchi also responded to a series of Israeli assassinations of senior Iranian officials. According to the minister, these assassinations will not weaken the Iranian government, because "the United States and Israel have not yet realized that the Iranian government does not rely on a single individual." Iran executed another person on Wednesday for alleged espionage for Israel — the name of the convicted person was not disclosed. Al Jazeera ↗